Nat Fleischer, Founder of Ring Magazine, 1958, 1971.
Jack Johnson
Jim Jeffries
Bob Fitzsimmons
Jack Dempsey
Jim Corbett
Joe Louis
Sam Langford
Gene Tunney
Max Schemling
Rocky Marciano
Charley Rose, 1968
Sam Langford
Jack Johnson
Jack Dempsey
Joe Louis
Jim Jeffries
Gene Tunney
Sam McVey
Rocky Marciano
Jim Corbett
Max Baer
World Boxing 1974 Readers Poll
Joe Louis
Jack Dempsey
Rocky Marciano
Jack Johnson
Muhammad Ali
Joe Frazier
Gene Tunney
Jim Jeffries
Sonny Liston
Ezzard Charles
Nat Loubet, 1975
Joe Louis
Jack Dempsey
Jim Jeffries
Jack Johnson
Rocky Marciano
Gene Tunney
Bob Fitzsimmons
James J. Corbett
Muhammad Ali
Joe Frazier
John Durant -Author of "The Heavyweight Champions" (1976)
Joe Louis
Jack Johnson
Jack Dempsey
Muhammad Ali
Gene Tunney
Joe Frazier
Jim Jeffries
James J. Corbett
Rocky Marciano
Max Schemling
Bill Brennan 1978 (Former President of the WBA)
Muhammad Ali
Joe Louis
Jack Dempsey
Jack Johnson
Gene Tunney
Jim Jeffries
Max Schemeling
Rocky Marciano
James J. Corebett
Bob Fitzsimmons
Big Book of Boxing Reader Poll, 1978
Joe Louis
Muhammad Ali
Rocky Marciano
Jack Dempsey
Jack Johnson
Gene Tunney
Joe Frazier
Jim Jeffries
Ezzard Charles
Sonny Liston
Gilbert Odd, 1985 (Kings of the Ring)
Muhammad Ali
Joe Louis
Jack Johnson
Floyd Patterson
Jack Dempsey
Jim Jeffries
Tommy Burns
Gene Tunney
Jim Corbett
Max Schmeling
Bert Sugar, 1991
Jack Dempsey
Joe Louis
Muhammad Ali
Jack Johnson
Gene Tunney
Rocky Marciano
Joe Frazier
Larry Holmes
Sonny Liston
Mike Tyson
Arthur Harris, 1992 (Nov 1992 Boxing Scene)
Muhammad Ali
Joe Louis
Jack Dempsey
Jack Johnson
Gene Tunney
Rocky Marciano
Larry Holmes
Jersey Joe Walcott
Joe Frazier
Sonny Liston
Nigel Collins, 1997
Muhammad Ali
Joe Louis
Evander Holyfield
Larry Holmes
George Foreman
Jack Johnson
Rocky Marciano
Joe Frazier
Jack Dempsey
Sonny Liston
Herbert Goldman, 1997
Muhammad Ali
Joe Louis
Sonny Liston
Mike Tyson
Larry Holmes
Jack Johnson
Jack Dempsey
George Foreman
Rocky Marciano
Joe Frazier
Steve Farhood, 1997
Muhammad Ali
Joe Louis
Jack Johnson
Larry Holmes
Rocky Marciano
Jack Dempsey
Jim Jeffries
Evander Holyfield
Mike Tyson
George Foreman
BBC Sports, 2004
Muhammad Ali
Joe Louis
Jack Johnson
Larry Holmes
Jack Dempsey
Rocky Marciano
Lennox Lewis
Mike Tyson
George Foreman
Evander Holyfield
IBRO Member Poll, 2005
Joe Louis
Muhammad Ali
Jack Johnson
Jack Dempsey
Rocky Marciano
Larry Holmes
James Jeffries
George Foreman
Sonny Liston
Joe Frazier
ESPN, 2007
Joe Louis
Muhammad Ali
Jack Dempsey
Jack Johnson
Gene Tunney
Rocky Marciano
Ezzard Charles
George Foreman
Joe Frazier
Larry Holmes
Richard O'Brien (SI Senior Editor) 2009
Muhammad Ali
Joe Louis
Sonny Liston
Larry Holmes
Jack Johnson
Jack Dempsey
George Foreman
Joe Frazier
Rocky Marciano
Lennox Lewis
Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
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Collins2000
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 4175
- Joined: 06 May 2002, 06:13
Re: Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
Bazza Deskins wasn't consulted?
Re: Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
Collins2000 wrote:Bazza Deskins wasn't consulted?
Nor Granberry.
I would love to see his list especially if it was confined to the modern era.
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Goodnight, Irene
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 9463
- Joined: 24 Sep 2007, 04:43
Re: Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
It's interesting to watch the evolution of lists, given the passing of time. You can see Ali sort of move up the ranks over the decades, in much the same way as a contender moves up the ranks in real-time over a period of years.
Re: Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
Interesting how things come full circle. That One got his lists from my good friend Monte Cox's website -- and he several of those lists from me (I've been collecting them for years).
One I always found interesting was this one:
Experts Poll (1962)
"The Ring" (December 1962, pp. 6-12)
1-Jack Dempsey (13)
2-Joe Louis (10)
3-Jack Johnson (9)
4-Gene Tunney (3)
5-Jim Jeffries, Sam Langford (2 each)
7-Rocky Marciano (1)
Vote named greatest heavyweight, only.
Panel. Jack Dempsey votes: Elmer Ferguson, Jack Cuddy, Ned Brown, Frank Graham, Dink Carroll, Sam Cohen, Harry Grayson, Jersey Jones, Jack Koford, Dan Walton, Max Kase, Hugh Bradley, Al Buck. Joe Louis votes: Dan Parker, Nat Loubet, Murray Rose, Lew Eskin, Dan Daniel, Johnny McDonald, George Whiting, Ted Carroll, Ray Grody, Al DelGreco. Jack Johnson votes: Nat Fleischer, Willie Ratner, Dick Cullum, George A. Barton, Dick Young, Anthony Marenghi, Harry Keck, Arthur Daley, Johnny Sharpe. Gene Tunney votes: Warren Brown, Chris Dundee, Jack Fried. Jim Jeffries votes: Willie Ritchie, Sam Taub. Sam Langford votes: Charley Rose, Bill McCormick. Rocky Marciano vote: Lloyd Larson.
One I always found interesting was this one:
Experts Poll (1962)
"The Ring" (December 1962, pp. 6-12)
1-Jack Dempsey (13)
2-Joe Louis (10)
3-Jack Johnson (9)
4-Gene Tunney (3)
5-Jim Jeffries, Sam Langford (2 each)
7-Rocky Marciano (1)
Vote named greatest heavyweight, only.
Panel. Jack Dempsey votes: Elmer Ferguson, Jack Cuddy, Ned Brown, Frank Graham, Dink Carroll, Sam Cohen, Harry Grayson, Jersey Jones, Jack Koford, Dan Walton, Max Kase, Hugh Bradley, Al Buck. Joe Louis votes: Dan Parker, Nat Loubet, Murray Rose, Lew Eskin, Dan Daniel, Johnny McDonald, George Whiting, Ted Carroll, Ray Grody, Al DelGreco. Jack Johnson votes: Nat Fleischer, Willie Ratner, Dick Cullum, George A. Barton, Dick Young, Anthony Marenghi, Harry Keck, Arthur Daley, Johnny Sharpe. Gene Tunney votes: Warren Brown, Chris Dundee, Jack Fried. Jim Jeffries votes: Willie Ritchie, Sam Taub. Sam Langford votes: Charley Rose, Bill McCormick. Rocky Marciano vote: Lloyd Larson.
Re: Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
Fascinating. Thanks for these lists, ThatOne. And the extra one from Mr E.
Ali wins 8
Louis 6
Dempsey 2
Johnson 1
Langford 1
Ali wins 8
Louis 6
Dempsey 2
Johnson 1
Langford 1
Re: Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
I myself have studied this train of though in the past.
Instead of just asking anybodies... "Who is your top 10 Heavyweights"... I decided to explore the thought and opinions of the respected boxing veterans and pundits...
My findings were detailled, but I can give you a brief account:
Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis are ALWAYS (99%) of the time included in peoples top 10.
You will find that Rocky Marciano will be included in there somewhere...
Jack Dempsey and Jack Johnson are also in there, though both fighters do shoot up-and-down the list.
Joe Frazier and George Foreman are also usually named in veterans 10.
Mike Tyson is almost a certainty.
****
These were the top 8, in most boxing pundits books... It was rare that any of these 8 weren't included in the 10.
Other notable names which are mentioned are:
Lennox Lewis,
Larry Holmes,
Evander Holyfield,
Sam Langford,
John L. Sullivan,
Jersey Joe Walcott,
Ezzard Charles,
Floyd Patterson,
Sonny Liston
Then you have some names which occasionally creep into the 10.
Such as,
James J. Braddock, Jim Jeffries, Ken Norton, Riddick Bowe, Gene Tunney,
Finally, there would be some names who are only mentioned the once if you asked 15/20 people for their top 10s...
These names would include:
Leon Spinks, Jess Willard, Archie Moore, Vitali Klitchsko and Tommy Burns.
Instead of just asking anybodies... "Who is your top 10 Heavyweights"... I decided to explore the thought and opinions of the respected boxing veterans and pundits...
My findings were detailled, but I can give you a brief account:
Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis are ALWAYS (99%) of the time included in peoples top 10.
You will find that Rocky Marciano will be included in there somewhere...
Jack Dempsey and Jack Johnson are also in there, though both fighters do shoot up-and-down the list.
Joe Frazier and George Foreman are also usually named in veterans 10.
Mike Tyson is almost a certainty.
****
These were the top 8, in most boxing pundits books... It was rare that any of these 8 weren't included in the 10.
Other notable names which are mentioned are:
Lennox Lewis,
Larry Holmes,
Evander Holyfield,
Sam Langford,
John L. Sullivan,
Jersey Joe Walcott,
Ezzard Charles,
Floyd Patterson,
Sonny Liston
Then you have some names which occasionally creep into the 10.
Such as,
James J. Braddock, Jim Jeffries, Ken Norton, Riddick Bowe, Gene Tunney,
Finally, there would be some names who are only mentioned the once if you asked 15/20 people for their top 10s...
These names would include:
Leon Spinks, Jess Willard, Archie Moore, Vitali Klitchsko and Tommy Burns.
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Collins2000
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 4175
- Joined: 06 May 2002, 06:13
Re: Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
Crease wrote:I myself have studied this train of though in the past.
Instead of just asking anybodies... "Who is your top 10 Heavyweights"... I decided to explore the thought and opinions of the respected boxing veterans and pundits...
...
Finally, there would be some names who are only mentioned the once if you asked 15/20 people for their top 10s...
These names would include:
Leon Spinks, Jess Willard, Archie Moore, Vitali Klitchsko and Tommy Burns.
Can you tell me which "respected boxing veterans and pundits" included Leon Spinks amongst the Top 10 heavyweights ever.
Re: Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
No problem, Collins, give me a few days to dig up my file on it.Collins2000 wrote: Can you tell me who included Leon Spinks amongst the Top 10 heavyweights ever.
Re: Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
I got all of my information from the Internet so you could look it up for yourself.
But I will get back to you.
But I will get back to you.
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Collins2000
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 4175
- Joined: 06 May 2002, 06:13
Re: Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
Looking forward to seeing who it was.Crease wrote:I got all of my information from the Internet so you could look it up for yourself.
But I will get back to you.
Re: Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
The June 1927 issue of RING magazine lists Jack Johnson as"The Greatest Fighter of all Time".
Re: Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
It would be intersting to know of all of these compilers.
Who was the heavyweight champion of the world when they were say 24 years old?
One has to account for some bias as to that,their own generation.
Who was the heavyweight champion of the world when they were say 24 years old?
One has to account for some bias as to that,their own generation.
Re: Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
Also the winner of the Murray Woroner radio broadcasts of 1967.
(all those radio broadcasts can be heard on the extras of the DVD SUPERFIGHT,
Marciano-vrs-Muhammad Ali)
(all those radio broadcasts can be heard on the extras of the DVD SUPERFIGHT,
Marciano-vrs-Muhammad Ali)
Re: Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
I'd like to know whic "respected boxing veterands an pundits include Vital Klitschko in there.Collins2000 wrote:Crease wrote:I myself have studied this train of though in the past.
Instead of just asking anybodies... "Who is your top 10 Heavyweights"... I decided to explore the thought and opinions of the respected boxing veterans and pundits...
...
Finally, there would be some names who are only mentioned the once if you asked 15/20 people for their top 10s...
These names would include:
Leon Spinks, Jess Willard, Archie Moore, Vitali Klitchsko and Tommy Burns.
Can you tell me which "respected boxing veterans and pundits" included Leon Spinks amongst the Top 10 heavyweights ever.
Re: Historians Rankings Of The Top Heavyweights
In my files, Leon Spinks is my mentioned and his name is under Don King's name.
So, Don King put Leon Spinks in hsi top 10 Heavyweights.
So, Don King put Leon Spinks in hsi top 10 Heavyweights.